Snow plow



.2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 13, 1936. F. coATES SNOW PLOW Filed oct. 31, 1954 M W www. mw L, I Lb .n LQ hw WML, k. wmm W w wr ww Sv N i 4 p .wr .L m Awwf.. MM Q m. w iLi M 4W .r Nm www E m d 4 i f Y www N Nw ,z Nm MM F. COATES sNow PLow 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5l, 1934 Patented ocr. 13,1936 y i 2,057,326

UNITED STATES PATENT GFI-ICE sNow PLOW l Frank Coates, Corydon, Iowa 'Application october 31, 1934, serial No. '150,829

7 claims. (ci. 3'1-42) i My invention relates to the structure of a snow for supporting the mold board for adjusting it to plow adapted for use on the front of a truck. different angles with relation to the path of tractor or the like. travel of the machine.

Itis an object of my invention to provide in Still a further object is to provide suitable such a structure a plow member or mold board means for adjusting the mold board to diierent so mounted that it may be raised or lowered and angles with relation to the vertical. supported transversely to the path of travel of `A further object of my invention is to provide the machine or swung in a horizontal plane to a safety yieldingdevice which allows the plow diierent angles with relation to the` path of to swing in case it meets unusual obstructions, 10 travel. In this connection it is my Ipurpose to Vwhich device includes a spring so connected with '10 provide such a mounting for the plow member or the Vmold board and the mounting therefor as to mold board that it may be raised or lowered in always impart. tension on the center oi the mold any of the different positions of its last men-4 board and straight back from the mold board, tioned` adjustment without tilting one end upregardless of the adjustment of the mold board. 1.3 wardly more than the other. Thus it is my An additional object is to provide novel'fea- 15 purpose to provide a snow plow mold board and- .tures hereinafter more fully set forth in the a mounting therefor which will permit the edge structure of the rigid supporting frame. of the mold board to automatically retain hori- A further objectis to provide a novel clutch zontal position regardless of the adjustment of structure in connection with the plow adjusting the mold board to different angles across the mechanism. A i road, It is my purpose to providesuch an apparatus More particularly it is my object in this conwhich may be used with different mold boards nection to provide a rigid supporting frame, a or blades, for removing snow, handling gravel or transverse member pivoted thereon so that its for general highway maintenance. ends may tilt substantially vertically and to pro- With these and other objects in view, my invenvide a frame pivoted to said transverse member tion consists in the construction, arrangement on an axis at right angles to the pivotal axis of and combination of the various parts of my snow said transverse member and further to provide plow, whereby the objects contemplated are atframe means for mounting the mold hoard on tained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, said third frame for adjustment on a vertical pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the 30 axis at right angles to bothof vthe other axes so accompanying drawings, in which: that the mold board may be r-aised and lowered Figure l'shows a side elevation of my improved when in different positionswith relation to the snow plow, or the like, installed on the front of path of vtravel of the machine and remain with a truck. parts being broken' away and parts being its engaging edge horizontal and so that in actual shown in section. 35 operation it may iloat freely to 4accommodate Figure 2 isa detailed view partly in section on itself to inequalities of the surface of the highthe line 2-2 of Figure 1. way, "Figure 3 isa horizontal sectional Iview taken .Still another object is to provide various novel on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. 40 details of structure in connection with such Figure 4 is aV detail sectional view taken on 40 mounting. the line 1 4 of Figure 3. l

A further object of my invention is to provide Figure 51s a vertical sectional detail view illusin a snow plow structure, shoes or runners for trating a modified form of means for mounting the mold board holdingframe so mounted that the uprights of the lifting frame.

they will always automatically assume positions AFigure 6 is a top or plan view of my snow plow 45 parallel with the path of travel, regardless of the,V and part of the truckY on which it is installed: adjustment of the mold board with relation to and a transverse line. Figure 7 is a top or'` plan4 view-'of a modiiled A further purpose is to provide novel means for form of certain of the controls; connecting the adjustable frame structure with My device includes a moldboard of the kind 50 the rigid frame structure. adapted for handling snowor, in the alterna- Stili another object is to provide simple and l tive, for handling gravel or' for 'general'highway novel means for raising and lowering the snow maintenance, whichis installed by suitable frame plow, means on the front of a truck, tractor or other f Another purpose is to provide novel structure self-propelled vehicle suitable for the purpose. 65

In the accompanying drawings I have used reference numeral I0 to indicate generally the front part of a truck on which my apparatus may be assembled. The truck I0 has a front bumper and a chassis frame I2.

For convenience I shall hereafter in the speciflcation generally refer to my apparatus as a snow plow without constantly repeating that it is adaptable for other` purposes.

My improved snow plow includes a rigid supporting .member comprising in the particular form shown here a rearwardly opening channel bar |3 arranged in front of the truck as best shown in Figure 6. The rigid channel bar support I3 may be mounted on the truck frame in the following manner:

Secured as by welding to each end of the channel bar I3 is a plate I4 which projects forwardly from the support I3 as shown in Figure 3. I shall describe the plates I4 more fully at a later point in the specification.

In Figures 1 and 3 I have shown the bracket plates `I5 secured to the respective plates |4.in any suitable way, as for example, by bolts I6 and projecting upwardly and supported on the truck frame. It will of course be understood that the plates I8 may be fastened to the frame of the truck in any suitable way as here shown.

'I'he plates I5 are hung from the shackle bolts I1. Tubular rods |8 are welded or otherwise fastened to the support I3 and extend rearwardly as shown in Figure 1 and are adjustably telescopically connected with rods I9 as by bolts 20, extend through the rods I9 and each is selectively received in any one of a series of holes 2| in the rod I8. The rear end of each rod I8 is bolted or otherwise secured toa bracket 22 which in turn is fastened to the chassis frame I2.

To take the strain off the brackets 22 and to more rigidly and efllciently support the rods |8 and I8 I provide the brace rods 23 which are preferably connected to the rods I9 at their points of connection with the braces 22. The rods 23 are then inclined upwardly and forwardly and extended through holes in angle brackets 24. The upper forward end of the rods 23 are threaded and received in nuts 25 which may be tightened for proper adjustment of these brace rods.

It will of course be understood that the rigid supports I3 may be mounted on the frame in any way and by any means which are suitable for the purpose, for example the bracket plates I5 may be offset, if that is necessary for mounting the member I3 which is of standard dimensions on truck frames of different widths.

It is an important object of my invention to provide such connections between the mold board already mentioned, to which I apply the numeral 26, and the rigid support I3 that the mold board may be held in proper position for efficient functioning and may have proper adjustments.

I shall now describe the means by which this mounting is accomplished. A transverse frame member 21 is mounted in front of the rigid support I3 by means of a bolt 28 which extends horizontally fore and aft in the apparatus through the frame member 21 and the rigid support 32. The bolt 28 is arranged mid way between the ends of frame member 21 and forms a pivot on which that frame member may rock.

The truck pushes the support |3 against the frame member 21 but in order to rsupport and strengthen the frame member 21 when It Is sub- Jected to special strains the plates I4 are provided with the internal flanges 29 overlapping the ends of the frame member 21 in front. Extending forwardly from the frame 21 is a second frame indicated generally at A. Seoul ed to and extending forwardly from the frame member 21 on opposite sides o'f the pivot bolt 28 are the bifurcated brackets 30.

'I'he second frame has the laterally spaced forwardly extending angle bars 3|. Welded to the rear ends of the angle frame members 3| of the second frame A are the short plates 32 shown in Figures l and 3 which are pivoted between the ears of the brackets 36 by bolts 33.

I shall describe the parts with the frame member 21 in a horizontal position although of course it sometimes tilts away from that position. It will ,be seen that the bolts 33 afford pivots by which the second frame may have up and down swinging movement with relation to the frame member 21. AI: their forward ends the frame members 3| are inclined forwardly and toward each other as indicated in 3Ia in Figure 6. At the forward ends the adjacent portions of the parts 3Ia of the frame members 3| are rigidly connected together by plate 34.

Associated with the frame A ls a third frame B which directly supports the mold board 26. The frame B includes a normally horizontal transverse I-beam frame member 35 which is centrally pivoted to the front end of the second frame A by means of an upright bolt 36.

Secured to the beam frame member 35 on opposite sides of the pivot bolt 36 are the ends of a semi-circular frame member 31 which preferably has the form of a curved angle bar with the horizontal flange 31a and the inner upright flange 31h.

The frame member 31 of the third frame member B is slidably mounted on the second frame A in the following manner:

The rear ends of the frame members 3| of the frame A are connected by a cross plate 38 shown for example in Figure l. The cross plate 38 rests on the frame members 3|. Fastened on top of the ends of the cross plate 38 are guide plates 38 which project forwardly from the plate 38 and overlie the horizontal flange 31a of the frame member 31 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 6. 'I'hus it will be seen that the frame B can swing on the pivot bolt 36 with relation to the frame A and that the horizontal flange 31a of the frame member 31 is restrained and guided between the frame members 3| and the guide plates 39.

In the flange 31a I provide a series of holes 31e. A plate 31d is fastened to the plate 33 and overlaps the flange 31a. A bolt 31e may be slipped through the plate 31d and any one of the holes 31c for locking the parts in adjusted position.

To take the strain off the bolt 36 and make the parts more efficient I have provided flller plates 38a on the frame-members 3| so arranged as to t against the flange 31a of the frame member 31. In pushing the plow forwardly these plates which are fixed to the frame members 3| serve to engage the frame member 31 and to prevent shearing of the bolt 36 and to greatly reduce the strain on the bolt.

Fastened to the back of the curved mold board 26 and extending from top to bottom thereof are the curved angle bar braces 40. Extending along the top of the mold board on the back thereof is an angle bar brace 4|. Brackets 42 are secured to the I-beam frame member 35 and-extend forwardly and are pivoted by horizontal transverse pins or bolts 42a Vto the brace 40 and to short similar braces 43.' Braces 43 are also fastened to the back of the mold board 26.

l The transverse angle bar 44 is secured to the lower ends of the angle braces 40 and to the mold board 26. To the angle brace 44 the cutting blade 45 is detachably fastened by means `of bolts 46. 'Ihis arrangement )permits ready removal, repair or replacement of the cutting blade 45.

Supported on the frame member 35 are laterally spaced brackets 41 which threadedly receive the set screws 48 which are adjustable and serve v as stops to limit the rearward swinging movement of the `upper part of the mold board 26 above its pivotal connections with `the plates 42. A chain 49 'is secured to the `back of the mold board 26 near the upper partthereof and midway between the ends of the mold board. The first stretch of this chain is fastenedto the upper end of a strong coil spring 50 at y. The chain extends from `thence through the spring and has a short slack loop 50a below the spring and is then fastened to the lower end of the spring at z, then extends downwardly and rearwardly and is fastened to s the vertical flange 31h of the frame member 31 midway between the ends of that frame member.

At theends of the frame member36 are runners of peculiar construction. AnV L-shaped arm 5| at each` end of the frame member 35 has one arm pivoted to the frame member by an upright pin or bolt 52a. The other arm of each L- shaped jecting arms 53 which are provided with vertically elongated slots 54. The arms 53 of each shoe are adjustably mounted on the extension SIb of one of the arms 5| by means of bolts 55 supported by the extensions 5|b and extended through the slots 54.

It may be noted that the arms 5| extend rearwardly from the frame member 35 so that they will always tend to fall in a path parallel with the travel of the apparatus regardless of the adjustment of the mold board to various angles across the highway. It will also be seen that the runners or shoes 52 can be readily adjusted to take care of wear and to accommodate them for whatever conditions `may be encountered.

Raising and lowering means suitably rigidly supported on and connected with the rigid frame member |3 as shown in Figure 5. At the upper ends the uprights 56 areconnected by a cross frame channel bar 51. Mounted on the channel bar are laterally spaced jacks 58 which may be of any form or make suitable for the pur- As here illustrated I have showna jack having a casing 58a in which is suitably 4mounted the bevelled gear 59 which has the upwardly extended threaded axle 60 received in an internally threaded sleeve 6|. Each jack carries at the upper end of the sleeve 6I a yoke 62 in which is journaled a pulley 63. a

Projecting rearwardly fromthe upper part of each upright 56 is a bracket 64. 'Ihe bracket 64 that the structure here provided, in which the cables are extended over the pulleys supported in turn on the jacks, affords means by which the rise or drop of the jacks imparts twice as much rise or drop to the frame at the points where the cables are connected.v It willfof course, also be obvious that by raising or lowering one of the jacks the mold board may be tilted from end to end. Y

A bevelled pinion 10 meshes with each bevelled gear 59 and has a shaft 1| extending through the casing58a of the jack. Each shaft 1| has near its outer end a squared orangular portion y1|a terminating in a reduced projecting end 1| b which is round in cross section.

Slideably supported on the framev member 51 is a clutch casing 12 in the walls of which the shafts 1| are journaled as shown in Figure 2. Received on the ends of the shafts 1| within the casing 12 are the clutch members 13 having formed thereon the respective bevelled gears 14.

Each clutch member 13 has a circular bore 15 to fit and slidably receive the reduced end portion 1lb of one of the shafts 1|. Communicating with this bore 15 is an enlarged bore porle tion 16 which is angular in cross section to t the angular portion 1 la of one of the shafts 1|. The parts. are so constructed that when the casing 12 is midway of its sliding movement on the frame member 51 each clutch'member 13 will have nonrotatable engagement with one of the shafts 1|. This is by reason of the lreception of the angular portion 1|a of a shaft 1| within the angular bore 16 of a clutch member 13.

When the parts are in this position which may for convenience be called neutral position and both of the clutches are rotated the jacks will be operated simultaneously and alike.

By sliding the casing 12 lengthwise of the f rame 51 and ofthe shafts 1| in either direction the clutch structure can be moved to position where the angular bore 16 of one of the clutch members 13 clearsthe angular section 1|a of the shaft of that clutch member. Thereupon that clutch member even though rotated will have no effect upon its shaft but the other clutch member will rotate its shaft. 1

I have provided a spring pressed detent ball 11 in the under side of the casing 12 to co-act with three recesses 18 in the frame member 51. The recesses 18` are properly located for holding the casing 12 in the three operative positions to which it is adjusted in use.

For rotating the bevelled gears 14 on the clutch vmembers 13 I have provided a bevelled gear 19 which is always in mesh with the bevelled gears 14 and has a shaft journaled in the clutch casing sired point for example withinthe cab of the i truck. The rear end of the rod 8| may have a crank handle Bla or I may aiilx a wheel 82 on the inner end of the controlling rod 6I. The wheel 82 has a handle 83. By means of the handle the wheel can be manipulated for rotating the bevelled gear 19 and thus operating the jacks.

For sliding the clutch casing 12 on the frame 51 and thus adjusting the clutch to any of its three operative `positions I provide two means, one' shown in Figure 6 and one shown in Figure 7. In the form shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 6 a rod 84 is journaled in a bracket 85 on the frame member 51 and has a. crank 84a on its lower end. The crank 84a is connected by a link 86 with the casing 12. The rod 84 extends rearwardly to the cab and has an offset handle 88. By rotating the rod 84 the clutch structure can be slid to the desired position.

In Figure 7 I show a lever 89 pivoted between its ends on a bracket 98 supported on the frame member 51. One end of the lever 89 is connected by a lirk 9| with the clutch casing 12. The other end of the lever 89 is connected by a link 92 with an arm 93 on a sleeve 94 on the rod 8|.

At its rear end the sleeve 94 has a handle 95 by which it may be manipulated.

Operation I shall now describe the operation of my improved plow. When the plow is being transported to the place where it is to be used it is raised so that the blade 45 and the runners 52 clear the ground ahead of the truck. When it is desired to use the snow plow the opera-tor sees to it that the clutch casing 12 is adjusted to middle cr neutral position. This adjustment is accomplished by turning the rod 84 or the sleeve 94, as the case may be. The operator then manipulates the crank Bla or the wheel 82 for rotating the rod 8| and consequently rotating the shafts 1I and thus lowering the mold board until the runners 52 rest on the ground and preferably until he allows some slack in cables 69.

Ordinarily the mold board in use is not in a position extending straight across the highway but is inclined at an angle transverse as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6. To adjust the mold beard the operator pulls the bolt 31e out of the hole 31e, then swings the mold board and the frames A and B until the mold board is in the desired position as for instance illustrated in Figure 6 in dotted lines. He then inserts the bolt 31e in the proper hole 31e. It will be seen that if the left hand cable 69 were not slacked during this operation the left hand end of the mold board would be raised.

After the mold board has been moved to the desired position the operator manipulates the clutch structure for giving to both cables enough slack to allow for free floating movement of the plow. The machine is then ready for use.

If the plow is pushed forwardly by the truck it will be seen that if there are any inequalities in the highway the runners will permit the plow to tilt slightly from end to end. This is made possible because of the manner in which the frame member 21 is pivoted on the fixed frame member i3. Furthermore the runners will slide over inequalities and the mold board and the frames A and B can go up and down on account of the pivotal connection between the frame A and the frame member 21.

If, instead of operating on a level pavement where it is desired that the mold board can oat freely, it should be necessary to operate for example on a shoulder and to hold the mold board in a position tilted from end to end the operator can adjust the clutch structure and raise or lower either end oi the mold board. Thus if it were desired to raise the left hand end of the mold board as shown in Figure 6 the operator would rotate the rod 84 for moving the clutch structure to the left. (This would be to the right if we were viewing Figure 2) Then the operator would rotate the shaft 8l.

For raising the left hand jack of Figure 6 the right hand clutch member would be free from operative engagement with its shaft and would have no effect upon the right hand jack.

The advantage of the spring 50 will be obvious.

Referring now to Figure 1, if the cutter blade 45 should strike an obstruction such as a stone, the upper end of the mold board would swing forwardly stretching the spring 50 and permitting the blade to slide over the obstruction. When the spring is stretched until the slack loop 58a is straightened out the mold board can tilt no further. After the obstruction is cleared the spring will pull the mold board back to normal position.

Speaking again of the use of the plow when the parts are adjusted to permit free floating operation it will be observed that there is substantial advantage in having the pivotal mounting of frame member 21 on the xed frame I3.v If, for example, there is a dip in the highway which is a little deeper in one side than at the other it will be observed that the runners 52 will follow the dip. 'I'he pivot 28 allows one end of the mold board to dip or tilt with a relation to the other end.l If by way of illustration one front wheel of the truck rides over a hump in the road there would be a tendency to lift the corresponding end of the mold board were it not for the pivot 28 which permits the mold board to follow the contour of the highway.

On account of the pivotal connection of the frame A with the frame member 21, still further flexibility is allowed the mold board and it can float up and down within reasonable limits with relation to the truck.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that many changes may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangements of the parts of my machine without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modifications or changes in arrangement which may be reasonably included within their scope.

For example the exact means for mounting the plow on a truck must be modied for installation upon trucks of different types and might be modified in many ways without departing from my invention. I have considered for example inclining the tubular rod I8 upwardly and rearwardly from below the front axle to the truck frame as a modification of the mounting illusirated.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a device of the kind described, a rigid frame member, a transverse rst frame member pivotally mounted thereon, a second frame member pivotally connected to said rst frame member on opposite sides of said first described pivot, a third frame member having a transverse beam pivoted to the front end of the second frame member and a semi-circular part slidably guided on said second frame member, means for locking the second and third frame members in different positions of their adjustment, a mold board carried by the third frame member, runners on the third frame member, and means independent of said runners for independently supporting the forward end of the third frame member at selected heights and in different" tilted positions.

2. Means for raising and lowering or supporting a snow plow or the like comprising laterally spaced cables each xed at one end and each secured to the snow plow structure at its other end, pulleys over which the cables are trained, vertically adjustable jacks carrying said pulleys and means for independently or simultaneously operating-said' jacks, said means including aligned shafts operatively connected with the jacks, said shafts having near their adjacent ends clutch member portions terminating in reduced portions, coacting clutch elements slideably mounted on the adjacent ends of the respective shafts, each adapted when in one position to non-rotatably engage its shafts and when in another position to rotate on its shafts, means for simultaneously rotating said clutch members, and means for simultaneously sliding said clutch members and said last means.

3. In a structure of the kind described, a frame including a pair of spaced thrust members, a second frame including a cross beam having vertical pivotal connection with the forward part of the first frame member, said second frame having a semi-circular member connected at its ends with the cross beams, said semi-circular member having a part slidabie across each of said thrust members and a thrust element on each thrust member and engaging said part to transmit the thrust of said part to said thrust members and thereby relieve it from imposition on said vertical pivot.

a. In a structure of the kind described, a frame, a mold board adjustably supported thereon and means for mounting said frame on a vehicle frame or the like, comprising upwardly projected bracket arms secured to said frame and adapted to be rigidly secured to a vehicle frame, rearwardly extending rods, brackets secured to the rear ends of said rods and adapted to be rigidly secured to said vehicle frame and tension elements extending forwardly from said brackets and having their rear and forward ends connected to said brackets and vehicle respectively for acting as draft elements to advance said first frame as said vehicle frame advances.

5. Means for raising and lowering or supporting a snow plow or the like comprising laterally spaced cables each fixed at one end and each secured to the snow plow structure at its other end, pulleys over which the cables are trained, vertically adjustable jacks carrying said pulleys and means for independently or simultaneously operating said jacks, said means including shafts operatively connected with the jacks, clutch elements adapted when in one position to nonrotatably engage said shafts, when in another position to rotate relative to one of said shafts and rotate the other one and when in stlll another position to rotate relative to said other shaft and rotate said one of said shafts.

6. In a structure of the kind described, a rigid supporting frame member. a transverse frame member pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof on a fore and aft horizontal axis, a third frame member pivoted to the second frame member on opposite sides of the pivot thereof, a fourth frame member mounted on the third frame member for adjustment on a normally vertical axis, and a mold board pivoted to said fourth frame member on normally horizontal transverse axes.

7. In a structure of the kind described, a rigid supporting frame member, a transverse frame member pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof on a single substantially centrally located fore and aft horizontal axis, a third frame member pivoted to the second frame member on opposite sides of the pivot thereof to said supporting frame member and a mold board carried by said third frame member.

FRANK COATES. 

